This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ian Ferdock. Find him on Instagram at @ianferdock. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
We live in a world where abundant content is always at our fingertips. There is never a shortage of new movies and TV shows for us to experience. And yet, many of us find ourselves constantly rewatching the same old films and series again and again. Once upon a time, during the Stone Age, we all had to rely on VHS and eventually DVDs to experience old favorites. With the advent of streaming, however, that is no longer the case. Now, shows and films not only have to compete with other new releases but also the traffic created by loyal fans flocking to the classics that have kept their interest for years. It is made quite evident by platforms regularly advertising old content that has recently migrated to their site. But why do people rewatch shows? Is it just nostalgia, or something more?
I must admit, I am a chronic re-watcher. I have watched The Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy, and Top Gear/The Grand Tour more times than I would like to count. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to why we rewatch shows, I don’t think there is just one cause. Nostalgia is a component, but there’s more to the story. Seeing familiar characters and plots is comforting. However, I also think a lot of newer shows and films don’t hold a candle to past productions. The insane number of choices we have readily available is intimidating too. It can take forever to find something new, and you never know if you will like it. Plus, new stuff has less content, so you blow right through it over a weekend. With all of that in mind, let’s talk about all the reasons we rewatch content.
Nostalgia
The most obvious force behind the trend of rewatching movies and shows is nostalgia. It’s no secret that our generation tends to lean into nostalgia whenever the opportunity arises. An easy way to do that is to relive your childhood or teenage years with your favorite content.
Within the context of nostalgia, I think it provides an opportunity to examine your personal growth. You aren’t the same person today as you were when you first watched a show or movie. As you rewatch something years, or even a decade, later you may feel differently about characters and their motivations. By viewing it again, it allows you to see how the way you interpret the world has evolved.
Another aspect of nostalgia is that it brings people comfort. The familiarity of a favorite show or film can be exactly what you need to unwind after a stressful day or week. Who doesn’t want to rewatch all the Harry Potter movies on a rainy Sunday before returning to work?
Something Old And Something New
Something that I have noticed as a chronic re-watcher is that each time you get through a show or movie, there is something that you haven’t noticed. For example, I am obsessed with Lord of the Rings. When I watch it, I go all in with the extended cuts which are all over 3 hours long. Because of that, every time I manage to catch another small detail. Yes, I have seen them numerous times and it’s not like there’s some major plot point that suddenly comes to light. However, you do grow an increasing appreciation for the minute details that separate good movies from iconic ones.
Similarly, when series like Grey’s Anatomy have over 20 seasons, usually around 20 episodes a season, all of which are at least 40 minutes long, it’s impossible to remember every single detail. As you go through the early seasons again, it’s fun remembering all the things you forgot as well as laughing about what you do recall. Rewatching provides an environment that mixes seemingly new discoveries, with some comfort brought on by its predictability.
New Shows Just Don’t Hit the Same
Another factor worth considering is the quality of new content. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of new shows worth watching and I do engage with them from time to time. Some of my chronically rewatched favorites are still coming out with new episodes, Outlander would be a great example. But overall, I think newer stuff just isn’t as good sometimes and I would be surprised if I am the only one harboring that sentiment.
It shouldn’t come as a shock that box offices, the primary way we used to be introduced to new films, are struggling. Granted there are a lot of factors that play into that phenomenon, but at the same time the quality of movies is clearly not compelling enough to nudge people into theater seats.
The same could be argued for TV series. Quality aside, producers don’t tend to make TV shows in the same way anymore. There are a few remaining classics still airing new episodes, but 20-plus episode seasons have become increasingly rare. On top of that, streaming-based shows usually dump a whole season at once, and you’re lucky to get 10 episodes.
This leads viewers to binge a new season in a day or two, and then you’re back to square one. Then it’s time to look for something else again. Instead of going through the same process, it can be easier to rewatch something that has more content and will last you at least a week before the cycle repeats.
A Bit of Psychology
In an effort to display some journalistic due diligence, I read an interesting article from Psychology Today that provided psychological explanations for rewatching content. It touched on topics like nostalgia but also provided some more justifications that may be less obvious. For example, it cited the mere exposure effect as a factor that supposes the more you are exposed to something, the more you like it over time.
It also discussed the “Mister Rogers Effect”. Anyone who watched his show growing up may remember his display of repetitive routines. The familiarity and routine he provided is a crucial reason why it resonated with younger viewers so profoundly. The same thought process could be behind rewatching shows.
Another hypothesis is the principle of least effort. When you watch a new show, you actually have to pay attention to everything that is going on. Many of us have the TV on as mere background noise as we doom scroll on TikTok. A new show would not provide the ideal setting for phone-related activities. Instead, rewatching an old show or movie allows your attention to ebb and flow without losing the plot. Even if you aren’t on your phone, it allows your brain to relax in a manner new content doesn’t allow.
There is also the paradox of choice. As I discussed previously, there are simply so many choices out there. And let’s be honest, that can genuinely be a bit exhausting for viewers. The more choices at your disposal, according to this theory it becomes increasingly challenging to decide. My girlfriend and I usually watch movies with dinner. It’s just kind of our thing, but sometimes picking one is the hardest part. We have basically finished our meal before actually making a selection at times.
So, Why Do People Rewatch Shows?
As aggravating as it may be to people like me who prefer a straightforward answer, there are many answers to the question: Why do people rewatch shows? For some people it may just be the desire to invite some nostalgia into their routine, for others it may just be an element of laziness. It can also be the overwhelming number of choices we have. Many of us may be compelled to rewatch shows for all these justifications.
I think the important thing to remember is we all do it. Perhaps some more than others, but rewatching shows is perfectly normal and widespread. There’s a reason why the moment something leaves one streaming platform; it pops up on another. There is a huge demand for access to older content, so we may as well make the most of it and enjoy ourselves. In a world full of endless new content, sometimes the best thing to watch is the thing you’ve already seen a dozen times. And that’s okay.
Let us know in the comments below what shows you love to rewatch!
Leave a Reply